Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-12-05
DIR POSTAL SERVICE.

Our esteemed neighbor, the IRtsiiigeHccr,
doesn't quite grasp the situation when 1t
says the Postmaster General speaks
good word" fo1 one cent postage in his an
nual report OF course Mr.. Villas would
lik, TO see il. az all would, but our neigh
Dor makes a mistake when it goes ahead
and dilates on the subject till those OF its
readers who are not well informed must be
led TO think that penny postage is coming
right away. The truth ia that no matter
how desirable it may be or how diligently
q Democratic administration may strive III
this direction, penny postage is still quite
q long way of. Here is what the Post
master General has to say on the subject.
After speaking Of the recent improvements
in the service, be SAYS:
In this promising condition special in
terests nav be expected to vigorously
press for a reduction in rates Of postage in
some class of mail matters, always Of spec
ious appearance of popularity; indeed,
their organization "fOr the improvement
Of the postal service" Is already begun;
but the general interest will perhaps rather
REQUIRE that q reduction of the rates OF
postage shall he deferred to q somewhat
later period. The time IS probably not
distant when, if the wiseSt measures OF
economy be pursued, the rate OF charge
upon letters can be properly lowered to
one cent per ounce, and some diminish
meut permitted in the hostages upon mer-
chandise and other matter. Butthe letter
postage of the United States is now fixed
at rate below that OF all other countries
ssveone, and, when the distances OF trans
portatiOn are considered, iS cheaper than
in any other. And the combined receipts
from all mail matter not OF the first class
fall far short Of the cost of its handling;
affording little claim, therefore, for less
postage charges.
The department under Mr.. Villas ell
Gent supervision has advanced rapidly in
the direction OF sslf-suppOrt. And here
again the Intelligence must permit us to
gently eorrec. it. In support of why the
department should lower the postage our
neiehbor says it has surplus OF $500, 600
10 cover into the Treasury this year. Now,
on the contrary, the department will have
to take from the Treasury some So, 900, 900
to cover the excess of expenditures over re-
ceipts. But the department 'is gradually
getting there under economical Democratic
management. In the fiscal year ending
June 80. 1887, the deficiency, which was
nearly s., 900, 900 two years before, was
reduced to $3,O76, 5O4
The Postmaster General anticipates that
during the current year the discrepancy
between receipts and expenditures will
nearly, if not quite, disappear; and ii
there should yet be deficiency, it cannot
be much more than the hostages upon the
mail matter Of the government itself,
estimated to be at least 81, 900, 900 yearly,
and reasonably the debt Of the
government to the postal service. The
revenue from the postal service has been
the largest ever known during the past
year, showing the increase Of $3.50, 600
in twelve months, and demonstrating the
financial wisdom of the reductions IN
charges that have been made within recent
wears. At the same time, the efficiency
Of the service has been increased. At this
time. when the financial condition of the